Burglar alarm



July 26, 1932. 1,868,923

A. F. SEMON' BURGLAR ALARM Filed om.. 2e', 1929 ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 2,6, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR F. SEMON, F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI BURGLAR ALARM Application filed October 26, 1829. Serial No. 402,697.

This invention relates to improvements in burglar alarms.

The primary object of this invention is the provision ,of an improved burglar alarm adapted to be operated by some member or part moved by an unauthorized person, to signal such unauthorized use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course l0 of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar references Y designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved burglar alarm, showing it in its cocked position.

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view taken through the burglar alarm, showing the parts in set-off or discharging position.

Figure 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of details of the burglar'alarm, with the plunger portion thereof cocked.

Figure 4 is a view showing one manner in which the improved burglar alarm may be attached for use and in said view the trigger thereof being in the path ofy a retractible door bolt.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figures 6 and 7 are Sectional views taken substantially on their respective' lines in Figure 1 of the drawing.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate .the improved burglar alarm, which comprises a frame B having 49 means C formed thereon for holding a cartridge D. Plunger means E is provided for discharging the cartridge D, being held inoperative until the time of discharge, by the u lever F. The lever F may be operated by "la any suitable means attachable to a part which may be moved by a burglar or unauthorized person, such as a retractible door bolt of a.

latch or lock construction H. Simultaneous with the discharge of the cartridge D, the

` circuit may be closed, and to this end a switch K is'operatively supported upon the frame B, having means L connecting it with the plunger E for circuit closing purposes.

The frame B preferably comprises an elongated narrow bar-like body 10, one end of which is provided with a lateral tubular extension 11, comprising part of thecartridge holding means @,having a bore 12 therethrough, within which the cartridge D may be placed; the bore 12 outletting at both ends 60 of the extension C, and the bore being such that the flange 13 of the cartridge will lie in abutment at the innerend of the eXtension 11. Y

The cartridge holding means C further Aincludes an L-shaped detachable cartridge retaining member 15, including the body portion 16 which is disposable upon the inside face of the body 10, between the cartridge i barrel 11 and the plunger E, being attachable in such position by a detachable countersunk screw 17. The end of the body 16 adjacent the cylinder 11 is provided with a bifurcated right angled cartridge flange engaging and retaining extension 20, best shown in Figure 7 75 of the drawing, which engages against the peripheral portion of the flange 13Y of the cartridge D, to hold the latter in position, but unobstructing the detonating point 21a which the firing pin or plunger of the means E engages, as will be subsequently mentioned.

The plunger means E has right angled flange supports 21 and 22, upon the body 10, projecting to the .same side thereof'as the cartridge cylinder 11. The support 21 nearvS5 est to the cylinder 11 is provided with a passageway 222L adapted toreceive the larger cy lindrical body portion 23 of a firing pin 24 comprising part of the plunger means E.' This pin 24 is provided with a point eXtenno sion 26 adapted to engage the deton ating portion of the cartridge D for exploding the vlatter. The pin 24 extends parallel and in Vspa-ced relation with the body 10, and is provided with a reduced stem 30 slidable through 95 an opening 31 provided in the other support 22. Between the support 22 and the shoulder 32 formed at the juncture of the portions V23 and 30 of the firing pin 24, there is a spiral spring 35, under compression, normally urg- CTL ing the pointed end of the firing pin towards the cartridge supporting barrel or cylinder 11. This portion 30 is provided with an annular groove 37, wherein the detent F is adapted to engage for cocking the liring pin.

The detent F is best shown in Figure 5 of the dra-wing, having one apertured end 40, adapted to. be detachably connected by a pin 41 in a pivoted relation upon the side of the flange 22 opposite the flange 2l. rFlieflange 22, as shown in Figure 5, is provided with openings 43 and 44, outwardly of and at each side of the passageway 3l above mentioned, by means of which the detent F may be pivoted either to the right or left of the axis of the firing pinso that. the free end.` of the detentF may be positioned to the right or-the left, inl accordance with the structure upon which mounted. At its free end the detent F has an aperture 47 forv receiving a Wire,

string, or anumber ofwires or strings, leading; toany'suitable locati on- `and attachable to members which might be moved by a-n unauthorized; person, forsetting of'the alarm..

At theend of theelongated bodyl 10 opposite the cartridge supporting barrel. 11 there is, provided? aV right angled' extension 50, adapted to support the switch K.` The latter consists of a casing 51, wherein. the. circuit maker and breaker means (not shown) is placed, of a conventionalnature,having terminals 52 and 53 facing away from the extension 50, to ivhichth'e .circuit connectingwires 54 may be attached. The casing 5l. at the op:- posite side from said: terminal is provided with a `screw threaded-tubular shank 55, having adjustable ,nuts 56 and 57 thereon; thee):- tension 50 being provided` with a passageway thrufwhich the screw threaded stem 55 is ad.'- justabl'e, and attachable to the extension 50 by means of saidnuts 56 and 57, engageable at opposite sides of said extension 50, as shown in Figures lv and 2 of the drawing. The switch casing 51 may thus be adjust-ed towardsor away from theeXtension 50', as desiredin accordance-with other featuresto be susbequently mentioned.. Theswitch K furthermoreincludes an operating plunger 60, Slidable ini the screw threaded tubularstem 55, havingan; end. extending, therefrom in the direction of the firing pin 30.y This switch operating plunger. 60 is provided with an opening therethrough', within which one end of a spiral spring, comprising part, of the means L engages; the spring atits opposite end being detachably connect-ed; to a ring 65, which isfswingable upon the end of the firing pini stem 30, opposite the firing point end 26. VVhenf the firingy pin 24 is heldi cockeduby means of` the detent F, tlie-spring'62 is con- Y tracted, and exertsno;l pulling force whatsoever'upon theV switch plunger 60. However, at'th'e instant that the'detent F releases the firing pin, and latter has moved to dischargev thel cartridge D, the spring 62 will be eX- tended, tensioning the same, and which will pull the Switch operating plunger 60 towards the firing pin, and close a circuit in the switch K, through the wires 54, for performing any of a number of functions. functions are preferably the primary one of illuminating all the lamps in a building upon which the burglar alarm may be positioned, so as to inform persons, after the discharge of the cartridge, that the building, or its contents haveV been tampered with. Another and. also principal feature of closing a circuit is that of illuminating red signalling lamps, at the front or rear of the building, or any other location, such as the police station, or an owners home, and in this connection means may be provided to Hash the lamps, such: asthe conventional flasher button.

The body l0 of the frame B is preferably provided with a plurality of countersunk openings-8Ov therethrough, by means of which the device maybe vertically or horizontally attached at any desired location. In the preferred use of the invention, which is shown in Figure 4, the device is vertically positioned upon a jamb or stile 8l of a door or window casing. The latch or lock is positioned upon the movable closure member 82, and the same is preferably ofthe so-called night latch type having a retractible bolt which vmay beretracted by akey from the outside of the closure 82, or which from the inside of the closure maybe retracted and set in a retracted position by means of a suitable detent, as can readily be understood. The operating leverdetentF of the burglar alarm A, is positioned i'nv the. path of the extended latch bolt 85, when saidl'ever F holds the firing pin cocked. This position of parts is shown in Figure 4, and if for'any reason the closure 82 is moved without insuring that the bolt is retracted the detent-lever F will be moved for releasing the ring pin. The cartridge D will be clischarged and the switch K closed, as can readily be understood from the foregoing, for the reasons described.

elongated U-shaped cover 7 0 is provided, having flanges 71 at opposite sides thereof apertured for receiving screws 72 by meansof which to attach same over the frame B, to hideA the latter and secrete the details therein.. The cover has a slot 73 through which the lever F extends.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement `ofparts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described,

without departing from the spirit of the invention or'tlie scope of the claims.

I claim.:

l. .Ina burglar alarm of the class described a supporting frame having a cartridge supporting extension thereon, a firing pin slidable on the frame having means to urge it against a cartridge for exploding the same, and, an L-sh'aped cartridge holding member Among these .l

detachably connected with the frame and including a bifurcated end engageable with the flange of a cartridge to hold it in position in said bore.

2. In a burglar alarm the combination of a supporting frame, a cartridge holding p0rtion on the frame having a bore for receiving a cartridge, means for holding the cartridge in position in said bore, includin a bifurcated right angled cartridge engaging extension in abutment with the peripheral portion of an end of the cartridge, a firing pin in position to engage the detonating end of the cartridge, and detent means for holding the firing pin cocked.

ARTHUR F. SEMON. 

